Next Up Forever

Last updated
"Next Up Forever"
Song by AJR
from the album Neotheater
ReleasedApril 26, 2019 (2019-04-26)
Recorded2018–2019
Genre Electropop [1]
Length4:16
Label
  • AJR Productions
  • BMG
Songwriter(s)
  • Jack Met
  • Ryan Met
Producer(s) Ryan Met
Audio
"Next Up Forever" on YouTube

"Next Up Forever" is a song by American pop band AJR, appearing as the opening track on their third studio album Neotheater .

Contents

Background

After the success of the band's second studio album, The Click (2017), AJR began stressing if their career had peaked. The band took inspiration from this fear and put into their writing, preferring the feeling of anticipating something rather than having it. [2] AJR included "Next Up Forever" as the opening track of Neotheater , contrasting from their albums Living Room , The Click, and OK Orchestra with each containing an overture as the album's first song. [3]

Composition and production

A screenshot from a recording session led by Bruce Healey. AJR Neotheater Studio Screenshot.jpg
A screenshot from a recording session led by Bruce Healey.

The song is composed in 4
4 time signature in the key of B-flat major and follows a tempo of 90 beats per minute (bpm). After the success The Click, AJR had a higher budget than their first two studio albums, so the band decided to spend more on their production. A live orchestra was in the studio, re-performing a synthesizer demo into saxophone, flute, and string instruments. AJR additionally hired Bruce Healey, a previous arranger for the Mellomen's music, to arrange the choir on "Next Up Forever". [4] Healey used recording equipment such as a Pacific Bell telephone from the 1940s to create an authentic close harmony choir sound rather than using plug-ins to emulate the sound. The song's drums take inspiration from "Pretty Girl Rock" by Keri Hilson. [5]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [6]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Next Up Forever"
Chart (2019)Peak
position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [7] 38

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AJR</span> American indie pop band

AJR is an American pop band founded by brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met (né Metzger), collectively a trio of vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, and songwriters. The brothers grew up in New York City, primarily focused on busking and singing covers until shifting to songwriting and touring. At their home studio, they have recorded more than 100 songs and have released five studio albums on various record labels along with their pop label.

<i>The Click</i> (album) 2017 studio album by AJR

The Click is the second studio album by American indie pop band AJR. It was released on June 9, 2017, via the band's label AJR Productions and S-Curve Records, later released internationally through Ultra Records and Black Butter Records. The album follows the trio's previous work, maintaining a pop sound with elements of hip-hop, electronic dance music, and jazz. It includes a sole guest appearance from Rivers Cuomo of the band Weezer while taking influence from Fun, Twenty One Pilots, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burn the House Down (song)</span> 2018 song by AJR

"Burn the House Down" is a song by American indie pop band AJR. It was released on March 23, 2018, as a single from the deluxe edition of their second studio album The Click.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">100 Bad Days</span> 2019 single by AJR

"100 Bad Days" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on January 29, 2019 via S-Curve Records as the lead single from the band's third studio album Neotheater.

<i>Neotheater</i> 2019 studio album by AJR

Neotheater is the third studio album by American pop band AJR. It was released on April 26, 2019 by the band's label AJR Productions. The album was self-produced by the trio. It is a follow-up to the trio's 2017 album The Click (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Winter</span> 2019 single by AJR

"Dear Winter" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on April 5, 2019 via S-Curve Records as the second single from the band's third studio album Neotheater.

"Don't Throw Out My Legos" is a song by American pop band AJR, appearing as the fourth track on their third studio album Neotheater. It uses an upbeat keyboard-based instrumental while discussing the difficulty of growing up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bang! (AJR song)</span> 2020 single by AJR

"Bang!" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on February 12, 2020, through their own label, AJR Productions. The song is the lead single from the band's fourth album, OK Orchestra. On August 8, 2020, a remix version was released featuring Hayley Kiyoko and AhhHaa.

<i>OK Orchestra</i> 2021 studio album by AJR

OK Orchestra, often abbreviated as OKO, is the fourth studio album by American pop band AJR. It was released on March 26, 2021, by the band's own label AJR Productions. The album was supported by five singles, "Bang!", "Bummerland", "My Play", "Way Less Sad", and "World's Smallest Violin". The album was produced by group member Ryan Met.

<i>Living Room</i> (AJR album) 2015 studio album by AJR

Living Room is the debut studio album by American pop band AJR. It was released through the band's label AJR Productions and Warner Music Group on March 3, 2015. The album was produced from the band's apartment in Chelsea, Manhattan.

"3 O'Clock Things" is a song by American pop band AJR from their fourth studio album OK Orchestra, appearing as the third track. It is the most popular non-single from the album, amassing over 43 million streams as of October 2023.

"Adventure Is Out There" is a song by American pop band AJR. It appears as the sixth track on the trio's fourth studio album, OK Orchestra. Originally being written for Neotheater, it was officially released on March 26, 2021. It uses an uptempo folk-pop instrumental while describing jealousy of an object's metaphorical freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break My Face</span> 2019 song by AJR

"Break My Face" is a song by American pop band AJR. Released on April 26, 2019, the track appears fifth on their third studio album, Neotheater (2019). It was distributed via the band's label AJR Productions and S-Curve, additionally receiving an Amazon Music exclusive version as a promotional single and music video on August 15. The song utilizes a stuttered pop melody with piano and trumpet while lyrically presenting confidence in personality over physical appearance, embracing imperfections connected to the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World's Smallest Violin</span> 2021 single by AJR

"World's Smallest Violin" is a song recorded by the American pop band AJR. It was released on March 26, 2021, as the 11th track from the band's fourth studio album OK Orchestra and as a music video. In 2022, the song became a viral song on the social media platform TikTok, with many using the ending verse and the line "I'll blow up into smithereens" as a soundbite on the site as fan edits or by throwing back to viral videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bummerland</span> 2020 single by AJR

"Bummerland" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on August 31, 2020 via S-Curve Records as the second single from the band's fourth studio album OK Orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maybe Man</span> 2023 song by AJR

"Maybe Man" is a song by American pop band AJR from their fifth studio album The Maybe Man, appearing as the opening track. The song was released alongside a music video on November 10, 2023, the day of the album's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Is Really Real</span> 2023 single by AJR

"God Is Really Real" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released by Mercury Records and serves as the eleventh track on the band's fifth studio album The Maybe Man. Despite not being planned as a single, the song, which is dedicated to the brothers' terminally ill father, was surprise-released to YouTube on July 3, 2023. The single was officially released on streaming services on July 5, 2023.

"Karma" is a song by American pop band AJR, appearing as the eighth track on their third studio album Neotheater. It is the second-most popular song from the album, amassing over 82 million streams as of February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neotheater World Tour</span> 2019–2020 concert tour by AJR

The Neotheater World Tour was the fourth concert tour by the American pop band AJR, supporting their third studio album, Neotheater (2019). It ran from September 20, 2019, to January 21, 2020, and covered 41 shows across Europe and North America. The set list consisted primarily of songs from Neotheater, with a few numbers from the band's second album The Click (2017) and brief appearances from their debut studio album Living Room (2015). A second leg of the Neotheater World Tour with 21 more shows was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ↑ Weinzapfel, Olivia (May 1, 2019). "AJR's 'Neotheater' provides songs for the subjective soul". Ball State Daily . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  2. ↑ Steeves, Audrey (July 5, 2019). "Interview: AJR Will Be Next Up Forever". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  3. ↑ Davis, Talia (May 1, 2019). "AJR takes a risk with a new but familiar sound on new album". The Breeze. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  4. ↑ AJR (April 29, 2019). AJR Breaks Down Their New Album Neotheater (YouTube video). Zach Sang Show. Event occurs at 45:34. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  5. ↑ Met, Ryan (July 1, 2019). "How We Made: Next Up Forever". Instagram . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Credits / Neotheater / AJR". Tidal. April 26, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ "AJR Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.